Cavs Job Has Little Appeal for Tom Izzo Without LeBron James

It appears that Michigan State men’s basketball mainstay Tom Izzo is the Cavaliers’ hopeful head coaching incentive to keep LeBron James in Cleveland. It also appears that LeBron James is the only incentive pulling Izzo away from the team he has led to six of the last 12 NCAA Men’s Final Fours.

Even if Izzo, who has been on the NBA radar since the Atlanta Hawks expressed interest following Michigan State winning the 2000 NCAA national championship, stands to make six million dollars a year for four to five years in Cleveland, no LeBron means Izzo is probably better off staying at Michigan State. Without King James, things in Cleveland are just not as exciting. And we all know how Izzo likes exciting. Here’s what Jud Heathcote, Izzo’s predecessor at Michigan State, told the Detroit News:

“I honestly think he’ll look at this, but unless he can get some commitment from LeBron James, the job isn’t that good. I think a lot hinges on what [Izzo] feels about LeBron’s future. I think he’s seriously considering it. He’s going to look at it like he does on all things but he’s got an awfully good situation at Michigan State, too.”

While it’s obvious that LeBron is going to be the primary influence of how things fall into place in Cleveland, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert insists that LeBron James is not Cleveland’s head coach, general manager, and all-star, nor does he control the price of popcorn at the Quicken Loans Arena, as some speculators might suggest.